Russell Crowe meets with Anglican leader after turned down by Pope Francis

Photo issued by Lambeth Palace, showing the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby as he meets with New Zealand actor Russell Crowe to discuss faith and spirituality at Lambeth Palace in London Tuesday April 1, 2014. Even though Crowe's new film has prompted anger and cries of blasphemy from some religious groups, Welby held a short private meeting with Crowe, who is in London to promote his new movie based on the biblical story of Noah. (AP Photo / Lambeth Palace)

LONDON (AP) – The pope said no but the leader of the world's Anglicans was happy to meet Russell Crowe, star of watery Biblical epic "Noah."

Crowe was denied a private audience with Pope Francis when he was promoting the movie in Rome last month.

But Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby met the actor at the cleric's Lambeth Palace home Tuesday, the day after the movie's British premiere, to discuss faith and spirituality.

Director Darren Aronofsky's film is a box-office hit in the U.S. but some Christian conservatives have complained it takes liberties with the Biblical account of the flood. It has been banned in much of the Muslim world because of its depiction of the prophet.

Welby's office said the archbishop had seen "Noah" and found it "interesting and thought-provoking."